The Canterbury Tales- The Prologue of The Five Guildsmen

A haberdasher and a carpenter, An arras-maker, dyer, and weaver Were with us, clothed in similar livery, All of one sober, great fraternity. Their gear was new and well adorned it was; Their weapons were not cheaply trimmed with brass, But all with silver; chastely made and well Their girdles and their pouches too, I tell. Each man of them appeared a proper burgess To sit in guildhall on a high dais. And each of them, for wisdom he could span, Was fitted to have been an alderman; For chattels they’d enough, and, too, of rent; To which their good wives gave a free assent, Or else for certain they had been to blame. It’s good to hear “Madam” before one’s name, And go to church when all the world may see, Having one’s mantle borne right royally.

隊伍中還有布料商、木匠、 地毯工、染布工、和紡織工， 他們穿著類似的行會制服， 待人莊重有情義， 他們穿著又新又乾淨， 他們的刀子不是便宜的銅製品， 而是高雅精緻的銀刀 他們的腰帶和錢袋也很細緻， 他們每個看起來都像是足以 當上公會長的好市民， 都具有能當市長的聰明才智和財富， 我想這是他們的太太必定也認同的， 不然真該罵， 太太們能被大家以夫人敬稱， 在守夜時走在大家前頭， 蓋著堂皇的紗照。